Improved illusion plate for setting diamonds

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to enhancing the visual effect of diamonds held in an illusion plate. The improved illusion plate provides enhanced diamond reflectivity by changing the shape and angle of the facet cuts in the annular ring forming the illusion plate, providing greater depth, which creates enhanced reflectivity of the combination of the diamond in the illusion plate such that the diamond appears to be larger than its actual size.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application incorporates the contents of provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 62/852,857, filed May 29, 2019 and claims thereof,the contents of which are incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to enhancing the visual effect of diamonds heldin an illusion plate.

Flat plates have been used to enhance a diamond's size presentation formany years. These plates are essentially one dimensional, merelyexpanding the apparent size of the diamond without materially impactinglight reflection of the diamond held in the plate. Conventionally, suchprior plates are normally under 2 mm in depth.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION

The improved illusion plate provides enhanced diamond reflectivity bychanging the shape of the illusion plate as well as enlarging itslightly. The present invention provides enhanced reflectivity therebyproviding an improved visual appearance of the diamond held in theillusion plate, making it appear that the diamond is large than itsactual size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c , respectively, show top, side and perspective or 3Dviews of a prior art traditional illusion plate for setting diamonds.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c , are top, perspective and side views, respectively,of the improved illusion plate of this invention.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are top, side and perspective views, respectively,of the improved illusion plate incorporating a halo setting beneath theillusion plate.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a round diamond.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a round diamond.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A diamond 10 is shown in the top, side and perspective views of FIGS.1a, 1b and 1c of the prior art illusion plate. Faceted cuts 14 are madein the prior art faceted annular illusion plate 12 which holds stone 10.The flat cut illusion plate 12 of FIG. 1 is generally, approximately,1.0 mm in height. While the facets 14 in faceted annular ring 12surround the stone, the physical relationship of the stone to thefaceted cuts do not materially contribute to the brilliance or lightreflection of the stone itself. The faceting merely provides an expandedreflected appearance because of the facets 14 in the illusion plate 12.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show an illusion plate 16 of this invention having adomed shape structure 18.

The illusion plate 16 has a greater depth than the prior art illusionplate, with the illusion plate of this invention having a preferreddepth or height of at least 1.2 mm as compared to 1.0 mm for the plateshown in FIG. 1. Other depths may be employed.

The depth of the illusion plate 16 of this invention will be greaterthan the corresponding depth of the prior art traditional illusion plate12. The dimensions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are merely illustrative. Thegreater depth allows for an angled faceted cut 18 to be provided in theannular illusion plate 16 so the light reflection off the facets 18mimic the light performance (up and out) of a larger stone, furtherenhancing the overall brilliant appearance and enhanced size of adiamond 20 set with the improved illusion plate 16. The stones are setusing conventional pic setting techniques.

While the angle cut of facet 18 shown in FIG. 2c is 45°, other anglecuts may be employed, such as at least 40°, which also enhance theoverall illusion and brilliance of the diamond set in the illusion plate16.

In accordance with the teachings of this invention, a center stone setin the dome illusion plate 16 can provide a stone with an appearanceapproximately two to four times larger than the actual karat weight ofthe stone.

The doming effect and faceting of the illusion plate 16 is carried fromthe bezel and star facets (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the center set diamond.Further, the angle that light reflects from the facet cuts 18 of theillusion plate 16 is substantially similar to the angle that light isreflected by the center stone itself. Therefore, the combination of thedomed illusion plate 16 holding center stone 20 materially enhances theoverall apparent size and brilliance of the stone.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and top views of a round diamond 40. They containthe basic structures of a diamond with crown 42 on top, girdle 44 in theapproximate upper middle of the diamond 40 and a pavilion 46 locatedbetween the girdle 44 and bottom 48 of the diamond.

FIG. 5 is a top view of diamond 40 with the table facet 50 on top, uppergirdle facets 52 and bezel 54 and star facets 56 on the sides of thediamond.

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are views of still a further improvement over theprior art by incorporating a halo setting 30 beneath the illusion plate16 holding a diamond 20. The halo 30 is a round plate holding an annularring of small stones 32 in a circumference larger than the circumferenceof the illusion plate 16. The combination of the halo setting 30 in FIG.3 with the improved illusion plate 16 further enhances the visualappearance of a stone set with the present invention.

The domed illusion plate of the present invention has a substantiallyconvex shape compared with the flat or concave shape of prior artillusion plates. Different size stones will utilize varying angles ofthe facet cut other than 45° as well as potentially altering the facetsetting shape of the improved illusion plate to enhance and augment thecenter set diamond. In this way, customers can enhance the look andimplied value of their jewelry.

Although the Figures show an illustrative depth of 1 mm for the priorart illusion plate, and a depth of at least 1.2 mm for the improvedillusion plate of this invention, other ratios as to the depth to thecircumference of the illusion plate may be employed to achieve the domeeffect. A depth of up to 4 mm or larger for the illusion plate providessufficient doming and convex areas for the angled faceting of theimproved illusion plate of this invention.

While the angle of the annular facet cuts in the improved illusion plateis uniform around the diamond, such uniformity is not required andvarying the angle of the annular facets may be achieved so long as thedoming effect is maintained.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described toprovide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.

1. An illusion plate to enhance the appearance of a stone set therein,said illusion plate comprising: an annular structure having an openingin the center to hold said stone, an annular ring surrounding saidopening comprising repeating facets having facet cuts therein, and saidfacet cuts forming a domed shape structure.
 2. An illusion plateaccording to claim 1, wherein said domed shape structure comprises asubstantially convex shape.
 3. An illusion plate according to claim 1,wherein said facet cuts have angular cuts, wherein said angular cuts areapproximately at least 40° angles.
 4. An illusion plate according toclaim 3, wherein the angle of said annular cuts is at least 45°.
 5. Anillusion plate according to claim 3, wherein the angles of said facetcuts are uniform in said annular ring.
 6. An illusion plate according toclaim 1, wherein the height of said illusion plate is at least 1.2 mm.7. An illusion plate according to claim 1, wherein said stone is adiamond.
 8. An illusion plate according to claim 7, wherein said diamondhas bezel and star cuts and the facets of said annular ring of saidillusion plate continues the faceted appearance of said bezel and starcuts.
 9. An illusion plate according to claim 1, further comprising ahalo surrounding said illusion plate.
 10. An illusion plate according toclaim 9, wherein said halo comprises a plurality of stones surroundingsaid illusion plate.
 11. An illusion plate according to claim 1, whereinsaid illusion plate has a depth of at least 4 mm.